Rake.



PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

No. 820,449. v

-H. VESPERMAN'.

RAKE.

APPLICATION, EILBD FEB. 3. 190a.

MLW

HENRY VESPERMAN, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

RAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatenteoi- May 15, 1906.

Application filed February 8, 1906. Serial No. 299,262.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VESPERMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Steubenville, in the county of Jefierson and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rakes, of which thefol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hand-operated lawn and gardenrakes; and the especial object of my improvements is to produce a rakethat can be cheaply manufactured from rolled or pressed metal and inwhich the teeth can be easily inserted and when in position will besecurely held against displacement.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, Ihave illustrated and will hereinafter particularly describe a preferredadaptation of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 shows in perspective a rake head constructedaccording to my invention with a part of the handle attached thereto.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rake-head minus its teeth. Fig. 3 is across-section through the rake-head and one of its teeth on line 3 30fFig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elrivation of one of the teeth of my improved rare.

Referring to the details of the drawings, (1 represents the back portionof my rake-head, which is formed from a bar of flat metal, the ends ofwhich are out tapering and bent down at right angles to form the endteeth a. In the upper side of the back of the head are countersunk bysuitable dies depressions M, which are spaced apart, and at the ends ofeach depression rectangular holes 0, are punched through the back toreceive the teeth to be described.

Each tooth is formed from a bar of metal rectangular in cross-section,which is bent at right angles at two points to form the parallel teethI) and the connecting back portion 1). On the outer face of the teethare formed projecting tapering ribs 6 the upper ends of which formsquared shoulders 6 from which the ribs taper inwardly until merged inthe lower part of the teeth. These ribs are rolled or pressed on the barbefore it is bent.

0 represents the iron coupling which con nects the handle d with therake-head, and same forms no part of this invention.

In assembling the parts composing my improved rake-head the member a,constructed as described, is heated until the metal expands suificientlyto permit the teeth to be driven into place, the ribs b passing throughthe holes a and the portion 1) of the tooth fitting snugly thedepressions a When the back bar cools, the shrinkage of the metal willresult in a close fit between the teeth and the bar, and the former willnot only be held against displacement, but Will be rigidly held, as theback bar a is clamped between the shoulders b and the part b of eachtooth. Furthermore, the back I) of the tooth being seated in adepression having walls on three sides and both ends, any tendency ofthe tooth to Work loose will be met by the resistance of such walls. Theteeth are set ed gewise to the front and rear sides of the head, thusbringing the strain incident to ordinary use in line with their greatestdiameter, and the ribs b serve as sti'ffeners for the teeth againstlateral strain applied thereto.

I claim 1. In a rake-head, a bar having openings therethrough andU-shaped teeth extending through said openings from the upper side ofsaid bar, said teeth having projections thereon, the cross-diameter ofeach tooth and its projection being greater than the diameter of theopenings, for the purpose described.

2. In a rake-head, a bar having depressions in its upper side and havingopenings at the ends of said depressions, and U-shap'ed teeth havingtheir bent portions seated in said depressions, and their tinesextending through said openings, said tines having projections bearingagainst the under side of said bar adj acent to said openings.

3. In a rake-head, a bar having openings therethrough, and U-shapedteeth having tines extending through said openings, said tines havinglongitudinal projections bearing against the under side of the baradjacent to said openings.

4. In a rake-head, a bar having openings I therethrough, and teethextending through said openings, said teeth consisting of a metal barbent into U shape and having tapering ribs on its outer sides,substantially as described.

5. In a rake-head, a bar having rectangu- IOO larvrecesses in its upperface and rectangular I In testimony whereof I aflix my signature holesat the ends of said recesses, {geethrectan- I in presence of tWoWitnesses.

gular in cross-section, having a ack portion fitting said recesses, andhaving tines fitting HENRY VESPERMAN' 5 said holes, each tine having ashouldered and tapering rib on its outer face, for the purpose setforth.

Witnesses MARGARETHE VESPERMAN, EDITH VESPERMANQ

